26.1 Association Membership

Subject to Education Code Section 45168, all classified unit members hired after the effective date of this Section must become a member of the Association or accept one (1) of the following alternatives;

26.1.1 Pay a monthly representation fee which will provide an amount of money equal to only that portion of the total dues, initiation fees, and general assessments paid by members of the Association which are applied to the legitimate costs of representation. Upon request, the Association shall return PERB mandated refunds.

26.1.2 In the event an employee cannot, for reasons of conscience, pay the representation fee to the Association, s/he shall not be required to join, maintain membership in, or financially support the Association as a condition of employment except that such employees shall be required, in lieu of the representation fee, to pay sums equal to such representation fee to one (1) of the non-religious, non-labor organizations, or charitable funds listed: The American Red Cross, the Redlands Community Scholarship Foundation, the Redlands Education Support Professionals Association Scholarship Fund, or the United Way Fund.

26.2 For those unit members hired prior to the effective date of this Section, s/he shall have the option to become a member or to refuse to become a member of the Association. The decision must be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date for this Section.

26.2.1 Once the decision is made, Association members shall maintain such membership subject to Education Code Section 45168 for the term of this Agreement. Sections 26.1.1 and 26.1.2, in regard to paying a representation fee or contributing to a charity, shall also apply to presently employed unit members.

26.3 Verification of Membership

On or before September 15 of each year, the Association shall present to the District a list of those members of the bargaining unit who are not members of the Association but are required to participate pursuant to the provisions in Sections 26.1. Upon receipt of this list, the District shall then notify each non-member of his/her status. The employee must, within thirty (30) days from the date of notification, either become a member of the Association or an automatic payroll deduction will be made as a representation fee subject to Education Code Section 45168. The District will follow a similar procedure for all unit members hired after the presentation of the initial list.

26.4 Professional Dues and Payroll Deductions

26.4.1 Authorization

Any employee who is a member of the Association or who has applied for membership may sign and deliver to the District an assignment authorizing deductions of unified membership dues, initiation fees, and general assessments of the Association. Such authorization shall continue in effect for the term of this Agreement unless revoked in writing. Pursuant to such authorization, the District shall deduct one-tenth (1/10) of such dues from the regular salary warrant of the employee each month for ten (10) months. Deductions for employees who sign such authorization after the commencement of the school year shall be prorated appropriately to complete payments by the end of the school year. The District shall not be obligated to put into effect any new or changed deduction until the pay period which commences thirty (30) days or more after such submission.

26.5 Deduction Procedures

With respect to all sums deducted by the District pursuant to authorization of the employee for membership dues, the Board agrees to remit monthly such monies to the Association accompanied by an alphabetical list of employees for whom such deductions have been made.

26.6 RESPA Assistance

The Association agrees to furnish any information needed by the Board to fulfill the provisions of the Article.

26.7 Other Deductions

Upon appropriate written authorization from the unit member, the Board shall deduct from the salary of any unit member and make appropriate remittance for annuities, Association dues, credit union, United Way Fund, and other plans or programs approved by the Board.